Our Correspondent
KOHIMA, FEBRUARY 8
The estimated adult (15-49) HIV prevalence percentage of Nagaland, which was 0.8 in 2014 has increased to 0.78 in 2015, way above the national percentage of 0.26. This was revealed at the annual general meeting of the Legislators’ Forum on AIDS (LFA) Nagaland held on Monday at the Assembly Secretariat, Kohima.
Highlighting the HIV and AIDS scenario of the state, Nagaland State AIDS Control Society (NSACS) project director, Dr. M Kire informed that annual new infections in 2015 is estimated to be 513 while the estimated annual AIDS related death stands at 287.
According to an official data presented at the meeting, the number of HIV cases from 1999-2006 showed 3792 positive cases out of 73,474 that were tested, but since then, the figure has increased to 19,225 out of 8,24,237 tests.
In 2015, just between the months of April to December, 1156 persons have reportedly tested positive out of 69,450. From the positive cases detected during this nine-month period, Dimapur district shows a high prevalence, leading the chart with more than half of the positive cases (See Table).
In his address at the meeting as the guest of honour, the Chief Minister TR Zeliang, who is also the chief patron of LFA, expressed concern over the prevalence rate of HIV and AIDS in the state and sought active participation of every individual towards achieving ‘Zero Target by 2020’. While emphasizing on the need to increase legislators’ contribution towards advocacy in addressing the issue of HIV and AIDS, he also called for support from bureaucrats for the cause.
Zeliang requested doctors from the medical department to play a vital role in curbing HIV and AIDS. While acknowledging that awareness campaigns are being imparted in the church platform, he maintained that awareness should also reach out to temples and mosques.
Nagaland Legislative Assembly (NLA) Speaker and patron & convener, Chotisuh Sazo who chaired the meeting, requested the Churches to continue to organize awareness and sensitization programmes, particularly in the rural areas.
LFA consultant, Dr. Vinito Chishi and Nagaland Baptist Church Council (NBCC) general secretary, Rev. Dr. Zelhou Keyho also delivered brief speeches at the meeting.
It is pertinent to note that the alarming statistics that were revealed at the meeting, indicate only the enrolled/registered figures and many people living with HIV and AIDS (PLHIVs) are said to be yet to come out in the open with their status due to fear of stigma and discrimination. The society needs to realize and understand that HIV and AIDS has to be discussed beyond the NGOs working in HIV and AIDS related fields.
Such alarming data calls for joint efforts and for people from all sections of the society to discuss how, as a community, they can help in spreading basic awareness on HIV and AIDS and to curb the menace from growing further in the Naga society.
